Front garden to tarmac driveway in Tonbridge

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Tonbridge?

Guide prices below are for Tonbridge, adjusted for the South East, where surfacing rates run about 10% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£105 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,450–£2,300
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,950–£4,700

As a 2026 guide in Tonbridge, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,200–£3,450. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Do I need permission in Tonbridge?

In England, a new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Where we work in and around Tonbridge

The key facts for Tonbridge. Tonbridge is 12 miles from Maidstone, and we survey there as part of Kent cover.

Postcodes: TN9, TN11, TN10
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Tunbridge Wells (4 miles), Sevenoaks (6 miles), Crowborough (10 miles), Maidstone (12 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Crowborough, Maidstone, Swanley.

What is included in a front garden driveway conversion?

A front garden conversion turns lawn or planting into a parking space: the ground is excavated, a stone sub-base laid, tarmac surfaced on top, and a lowered kerb arranged so a car can cross the pavement legally.

Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
Lawn, hedge roots and topsoil removed
Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Tonbridge

Can I get a free survey in Tonbridge?

Yes for new surfacing such as drives, paths, private roads and car parks. Small repairs are often priced from photos; if a visit is needed for a repair-only job, we tell you any charge first.

Do I need permission for a front garden driveway conversion in Tonbridge?

In England, a new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. Dropped kerbs are approved by the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Tonbridge?

As a 2026 guide in Tonbridge, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,200–£3,450. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How long does a front garden driveway conversion take in Tonbridge?

Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval. We book Tonbridge surveys alongside other jobs in Kent, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

More we do in Tonbridge

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Tonbridge? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.